Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Author: Lara ChapmanStars: 5 out of 5Back of the BookSarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws

My ReviewWhen the most "perfect" guy arrives at school Sarah is in love, usually this doesn't happen, but when a guy is the whole package of brains and good looks everyone is going to notice including her BFF Kristen.

First off I love how the cover of the book depicts the main character and her only flaw her nose.Sarah knows she can't compete with Kristen so instead decides to forget about her happiness and help her BFF even though she likes him. During this part I was like girl NOO! Dont do it, i personally know how to feels to do this thinking that you don't have a shot with someone based on your looks etc. So instead you give up because you think the other person has a better shot. Parts of this book made me cry (and I don't tear up that easy)because it reminded me off my high school experience with my friends and feeling like the ugly duckling. I loved her essay about loyalty and learning that in order to be loyal to other you have to be loyal to yourself. This has become one of my favs, you just feel like rooting for Sarah and having a happily ever after as cheesy as that may sound.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Author: Darlene Susan GirardStars: 5 out of 5** Book was given to me by the author in exchange for a honest review**Back of the BookFREEFALLING is an uncompromising view of the world as seen through the eyes of a 14 year old runaway caught up in a world of drugs, prostitution, and violence - living on the street, learning to survive, and not really caring if you don’t.Powerful, poignant, sensitive, and sometimes overwhelming; Freefalling is a two and a half year journey that begins with the loss of innocence and ends with the death of a young girl in a skid row hotel room. And the story of everything that happens between is Freefalling.

My ReviewIt starts with a young girl Melinda who is only 14 when her father starts to rape her, she runs away away and into the life of prostitution. Melinda spends 3 years on the streets before her death. Within this time she learns about the streets and being smart and safe through her new friend Angel. Melinda has a child CeeJay by the age of 17. Melinda continues her downwards spiral into drugs and working to get her next hit. Such a moving story of a young girl forced to grow up. I felt so bad for her and I wondered why her sister never went to look for her. Melinda is such a brave character, I wished her survived for her daughter. One part that got me is when CeeJay met her "father" she called him "grandpa" which I thought was really creepy. That dude should just rot in hell.

One of the best books I've read this year. Such a sad story about a young girl Melinda who grows up to fast. This book touches on incest, prostitution, drugs, sex, rape, crime and love. 10 years after her death Angel and CeeJay reunite, they form a bond and together try to heal and learn from each other. But other than that I demolished this book in one sitting. A good read for everyone.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Author: Jennifer Shaw WolfStars: 5 out of 5Back of the BookRachel died at two a.m . . . Three hours after Skyler kissed me for the first time. Forty-five minutes after she sent me her last text.

Jaycee and Rachel were best friends. But that was before. . .before that terrible night at the old house. Before Rachel shut Jaycee out. Before Jaycee chose Skyler over Rachel. Then Rachel is found dead. The police blame a growing gang problem in their small town, but Jaycee is sure it has to do with that night at the old house. Rachel’s text is the first clue—starting Jaycee on a search that leads to a shocking secret. Rachel’s death was no random crime, and Jaycee must figure out who to trust before she can expose the truth.

In the follow-up to her powerful debut, Jennifer Shaw Wolf keeps readers on their toes in another dark, romantic story of murder and secrets.SummaryOne of the best mysteries I've read in a while. I have been having luck with this genre of book so far this year. Another golden pick here and I must say I was little creeped out reading this at 1am in the morning it felt like i was in Lake Ridge being hunted down. Jaycees best friend is killed in her own room days later she receives a text and a video on her phone of her decrease bff. Jaycee believes there is a lot more to her death. Jaycee starts to look into her death with the help of Eduardo one of the people she was closes to before she died. Her bff has left clues along the way that only Jaycee would notice and understand, as she continues to dig, she becomes the new target of the people who killed her bff. Jaycee also doesn't know who to trust Eduardo the gang banger with a pass or the town's people she's grown up with her whole life.One of the things that had me constantly banging my head was how gullible and naive Jaycee was. She ability to believe what everyone says was really frustrating. Another thing that I thought that was sad was the segregation between the Mexican migrant workers and the towns people but this is sadly a reflection of reality in some places.The authors writing through the whole book makes you think you know who the killer was and to suspect every character. I didn't think the killer would be someone so close to Jaycee I was thrown off. One of the last people I expected was the killer and because of this I had to give the book 5 stars because usually mysteries I can figure out pretty early who the guilty person is.